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Looking to make a gantry similer to a Trotec speedy 300 laser engraver. This is very similer to a belt driven linear actuator/stage from compaines like bosch and Thomson. It a nice project as its isolating the rest of the laser design and just concetrating on producing a high speed linear stage. Speeds will hopefully be in the 200 Meters per Minute range

Personally i think if you want speed and accuracy then a servo and belt configuration is the only way to go. ive been planning to make a laser cutter for some time now. i have got all the optics and control system including a 120w Reki laser tube but not had time to get around to making it.. i will this summer :-)

But i would say Servos and belt for motion along with a small Hi-Win block and rail. like an HGH15 or HGW15 block and some HGR15 Rail. would not cost a lot for the quality kit it is.

I also think block and rail, belt and servo is the way to go, with the possibility of moving to a stepper to reduce costs.

On my current setup I am using a hiwin HGR15 Rail. I have learned from this setup that a smaller rail with a much lower overall height would be better than the HG15. The lower the height of the rail the smaller the pulley you need to make a loop of belt around the rail, connecting the belt ends at the front ethier side of the carriage.

Hiwin MG Linear Guideway is available in sizes (Rail Width) 5, 7, 9, 12, 15 (mm) and the height of the rails start at 3.6mm and go up to 10mm. In comparison the RG rail 15mm pitch has a height of 16.5mm so even at the 15mm pitch size the MG rail is significatly lower in profile.

I also found that only the lowest preload option gave a free moving carriage.

Another main issue I had was securing the pulley to the shaft of the motor. I have tried grub screws but the high acceleration rates and sudden change of direction when rastering work them loose in no time at all. A few possible solutions would be using an anerobic glue like locite bearing fit or a roll pin through the pulley and shaft. I like the look of these keyless bushing for small pulleys from CMT though, but they look expensive.

I have to be honest it all seems a rather expensive solution to move something that is relatively light?w why not go for something like the IGUS linear type rails and slides? very rigid and light and designed for this type of application?